A Little Trickerie

“Superstition is born of ignorance and fear, and thrives the most when reason is asleep.”— Zarathushtra

Coarse, uneducated and foul-mouthed Tibb Ingelby grows up as a vagrant, but finds friendship after two horrible events that catapult her into the hostile world that was Tudor England. Self-doubt, her past and her ever-present Ma’s wisdom shapes Tibb and often the distinction between friend and foe eludes her. She is streetwise to a degree, but longs to belong, to have a roof over her head.
I was utterly smitten by Tibb and her posse of misfits. Tudor England in all its superstition, bigotry and religious dogma is brought to glaring life in this story.
Friendships, whether incidental and short or a lasting bond over decades are at the core of this karma-led plot. And you will be hovering on the edge of your seat and cheering Tibb and company on.
Astounding story-telling clout for a debut - will definitely keep an eye out for Pike’s next adventure!

Born an itinerant, Tibb Ingleby has never had a place to call her own. However, her mother imparted the wisdom that if societal norms don't overly constrain one, there are numerous ways for a woman to find shelter in this world. Sadly, her mother meets an untimely demise in a failed deception, leaving young Tibb orphaned and solitary.

As she traverses the fields and woodlands of medieval England, Tibb will encounter individuals who will provide care and support, particularly Ivo, as well as those who intend to harm her. Additionally, there exists a multitude of people who are willing to believe virtually anything.

Consequently, when an opportunity arises to liberate themselves from the restraints imposed by society, Tibb and her newfound companions devise an audacious plan: their most daring deceit yet. However, their ruse takes on a life of its own, attracting attention and unrelenting adversaries.

Tibb possesses a distinctive, bold voice and is unafraid to employ it. Life proves arduous in Tudor England for impoverished girls without families, relying solely on ingenuity and trickery for survival. Tibb must learn to fend for herself and ultimately, with the assistance of unexpected allies, to do more than merely exist. This tale is redemptive, inclusive, and astutely crafted, deftly navigating the medieval world while maintaining authenticity.

Featuring well-developed characters and a resplendent imagination, this captivating narrative will provoke a whirlwind of emotions, with Tibb leaving an indelible impression. The atmosphere is vividly and evocatively described, and the climactic deception perfectly balances humor and heart-pounding tension.

A Little Trickerie is remarkably innovative, playfully amusing, and profoundly affecting. Offering a glimpse into a rarely depicted facet of Tudor England, it explores themes of belief and superstition, kinship and fortitude, all anchored by an eccentric cast of characters and an unforgettable, refreshingly imperfect heroine.

And besides, home can be a person as much as a place.

Tibb beguiled me I couldn't put down A Little Trickerie until I knew how things ended for her (happily, I hoped!).
Tibb as a character was fully formed and leapt off the page with her charm and wit; I followed her journey and her own made family and was utterly gripped. The way that the characters, locations and time period was written felt so self assured and confident for a debut novel and long after I put down the novel Tibb's wit and character have me smiling. This is a novel that I will gladly re read, and, a bold statement but this is currently my favourite book of the year and one that will take a lot to knock off the top spot; a must read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

Absolutely incredible. I don’t usually go for books in this period, but Tibb’s original, witty and devastating voice had me from the start. This novel is unlike anything I have ever read, and I actually find it impossible to sum up my thoughts. I’ve already been recommending the book to everyone I know, and there’s no doubt I’ll purchase a print copy when it’s published. Pike is clearly an astounding talent to have created such a funny and raw debut, and reading this was an absolute privilege.

Many thanks to NetGalley and FigTree for this remarkable, remarkable work.

Tibb has a unique, audacious voice and isn’t scared to use it. Life is hard in Tudor England for girls with no money, no family and only cunning and trickery to get by on. This glorious tale will put you through the wringer and Tibb will stay with you for a long time!

A punchy tale of medieval mystery told through the eyes of Tibb, the daughter of a vagabond, who is left literally holding the baby when her mother dies. Tibb has to learn to fend for herself and over time, with the help of unlikely friends, to do more than survive. Redemptive, inclusive and clever, this is a rollicking read that redefines the medieval world while feeling true to it. Great characters, beautifully imagined and with such heart.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me to review this debut novel. As a fan of historical fiction, I really enjoyed this very original story with some great characters. Initially, I did find the writing style unusual and was not sure if this book was for me, but once invested in the main character and the plot development, I was happy to continue reading. This book will appeal to those who enjoy original fiction and a slower plot line that gradually reveals itself. Well written, but the writing style did take the book to 4 ⭐️ for me rather than 5.

This book certainly puts the reader's emotions through a wringer! I was in turns sad, distraught, horrified, relieved, happy, amused and surprised but my over-riding emotion during most of this book was dread that something terrible was going to happen to these wonderful characters.

I loved the character of Tibb and the way she told this story was poignant, open-hearted and often comical. The supporting characters were very well drawn and likeable too. The environment was well described and the final trickerie was funny at the same time as being incredibly tense.

I genuinely found it impossible to stop reading right the way through the book and very much look forward to what the author writes next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of the book for review.

Absolutely loved this book. Set in early Tudor England, it tells the tale of Tibb, a young girl left on her own when her mother dies in childbirth. Born into an itinerant life she continues as such at a time when that was illegal, and the story of how she survives and the people she meets along the way, and the trickery she gets into is beautifully told. Tibb's voice is unique and instantly drew me in. There are lots of ups and downs in the book and the characters are at times in tremendous peril. I loved the ending, which was not something I was expecting! Would highly recommend this book.

Wow what an impressive and original debut! I haven't encountered a young heroine that has won my heart as quickly as this since Adunni in Abi Daré's 'The Girl with the Louding Voice'. Pike's characterisation is brilliant and I found myself captivated by the potty-mouthed narrative voice of Tibb Ingleby from the first page to the last. The plot is also pretty propulsive and the whole thing reads a bit like a Medieval English version of Huckleberry Finn.

Orphaned and alone, Tibb doesn't generally stay long in any one place, and so the story weaves its way through town and country of medieval England. Along the way Tibb meets fellow outcast and wanderer Ivo and the pair strike up an enduring and friendship. We meet other characters too - both the helpful and the hideous. There is bigotry, ignorance, cruelty and persecution along the way - so trigger warnings for some readers. Tibb herself is haunted by past abusive trauma which she describes as a 'black snake' which coils itself around her and strangles her self worth.

This is historical fiction, but with a fresh feminist slant which felt surprisingly modern at times. I was intrigued to discover that this book was inspired by the real life tale of the Holy Maid of Leominster, known only as Elizabeth, who created quite a stir in the late fifteenth century with a little angelic trickery of her own.

Pike plays on the commonality of our experience - we all ultimately want the same basic things as Tibb - a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, to love and be loved in return. Through the characters of Ivo and Ambrose the themes of tolerance and acceptance are further explored.

Suffice to say, I delighted in this piece of fictional trickery and loved getting to know Tibb, a true pearl in the oyster, and a character I shall remember for a long time to come.

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the ARC for this review.
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Born a vagabond, Tibb Ingleby has never had a roof of her own. But her mother has taught her that if you're not too bound by the Big Man's rules, there are many ways a woman can find shelter in this world. Now her ma is dead in a trick gone wrong and young Tibb is orphaned and alone.

As she wends her way across the fields and forests of medieval England, Tibb will discover there are people who will care for her, as well as those who mean her harm. And there are a great many others who are prepared to believe just about anything.

And so, when the opportunity presents itself to escape the shackles society has placed on them, Tibb and her new friends conjure an audacious plan: her greatest trickerie yet. But before they know it, their hoax takes on a life of its own, drawing crowds - and vengeful enemies - to their door...

What can I say about this debut novel, other than it is completely brilliant and I absolutely adored it. I hoovered it up in two sittings then felt so sad because there was no more!

A Little Trickerie is so spankingly original, and manages to be simultaneously disarmingly funny, and deeply moving.

It is most definitely irreverent, often sweary, very 'earthy', but it is stuffed to bursting with heart and soul.

Beautifully, and refreshingly written, it vividly evokes 16th century Tudor life, (see the above reference to 'earthy' haha), and is based on a true story of the so-called ‘Holy Maid of Leominster’ - a 16th century conwoman who impersonated an angel and amassed a cult following.

This novel is populated with a ragtag cast of characters, each one brilliantly rendered and in Tibb we have a distinctly unangelic heroine, who is completely unforgettable, with a truly distinctive and memorable voice. They sweep us along in their wake, we hate the baddies, and the rest steal our hearts.

The story explores themes of belief and superstition; kinship and courage; 'found family'; Love, friendship and sexuality.

It's about characters we come to love overcoming adversity and the worst possible circumstances, with courage, wit, cunning and 'a little trickerie'.

And it's about hopes and dreams, and how important they are.
Not being forced to choose 'half a life, or no life at all' as Ivo feels is his only option, but about trying to live your best life by seizing every opportunity you can.

As Tibb, channelling her Ma says:
'Live the life you dream, Tibb....Would you let this short life slither past?....would you let a ripe apple roll on by, Tibb?'

This debut is pure gold, and one of my best reads of 2024. I can't wait to see how Rosanna Pike will follow this one!

This is the story of Tibb, a young girl in medieval England who has lost her beloved mother and is in danger of becoming a vagrant, and therefore an outlaw. On a beach in Norfolk she meets a gentle, kind young man who is running from his own demons and this is the story of how friendship, love, cunning and indeed ‘a little trickerie’ could keep them from the ravages of church and state in violent and intolerant times. Tibb’s voice is unique and took a bit of getting used to at the start of the book, but soon became absolutely captivating, with this reviewer willing her to outsmart all her opponents. This is a book full of charm and with a story to keep the reader engaged until the final,word.

A Little Trickerie delves into a bittersweet world of a distant yet familiar Tudor England. Tibb is a character to be reckoned with, and I mean it when I say she has one of the most captivating voices I have ever read. She is full of charm, sadness, cheek, and brave naivety, and her character driven story does not lack because of her. She is arresting, and her at times unreliable narration is so well built. A bildungsroman of sorts, Tibb and many other characters had my heart bleeding time and time again. The first half of the story will sit with me for a very long time. I cannot give it any more recommendation from that statement alone. I have some issues with the latter half of the story (the trickerie part), but it would be part disgrace to even explore it when I had so many true-to heart emotions with these characters. Ivo and Tibb, together on that beach, is both devastating and mesmeric. I knew from that moment on I had been tricked. These two will not ever leave me.

Absolutely loved Tibb and her unique voice and how she navigates life as a vagabond in medieval England. Yes her Ma dies on her but she picks up some great friends along the way and dodges some not so nice people. Always looking for ways to stay alive and get cash, they join those who exploit the religious believers with their very own little trickerie.

I absolutely loved this unusual piece of historic fiction. Tibb is a young vagrant in Tudor England, living on her own wits after her mother dies in childbirth. I was completely drawn into her world, and the difficulties of life at the time for a poor young girl. She was a really vibrant presence, and the book was surprisingly positive and enjoyable, although having to deal with terrible circumstances. Once she finds a group of entertainers to live with, things seem to be looking up, but she ends up having to use her skills to fake a miracle, and then live with the fear of being found out. I couldn't put it down!

A dizzyingly brilliant story about stories, reinvention, and the power of found families, A Little Trickerie manages to pull off the feat of its complex language and tale of fake angels and real demons. Uplifting and buoyant, A Little Trickerie is all but a Tudor era Hustle adaptation, with oodles of charm and chosen family warmth.

Well, Tibb Ingleby and your trickeries, but you do tick all my boxes. ‘For these are the days and I should say…’that your readers will love you.
Tibb’s voice remains loud and clear long after finishing ‘A Little Trickerie.’ Rosanna Pike has created a uniquely memorable character in her vagabond teenager. Orphaned, with a new-born baby to care for, Tibb has only herself to rely on in a medieval England living by punitive Church laws and steeped in superstition. No wonder she has no time for the ‘big-man-God’.
We follow Tibb along the coasts of Norfolk and then Suffolk before heading inland. As she travels, she makes dear friends in Ivo and Maria, to name but two, but they both seem to let her down. Is there anyone she can trust? In a world where a belief in God seems more important than life itself, she learns that God is very unforgiving of difference and she sees for herself that the religious are both fearful and cruel.
In contrast, Tibb is curious, generous and warm-hearted. She wants her eccentric family to be happy. Is it really so wrong to use her talents to secure an earthly paradise?
This is a highly engaging read. The author uses her research wisely; we are steeped in the mire and sweat of medieval life whilst identifying with human desires that connect us across the centuries. Funny, fascinating and, ultimately, very moving. Highly recommended. What a wonderful discovery!
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I’m not sure I’ve really read anything quite like this. It’s brilliant historical fiction with an unforgeattable central caracter in Tibb

Orphaned and alone Tibb Ingleby must find a place in the world. As she travels through medieval England she meets a fantastic cast of characters. From Ivo to Ambrose all are brilliantly drawn and I wanted to spend time with them all - well excepting Father Brian and Signor Peroro - them I wanted to punch!

A Little Trickerie is an imaginative, often funny and always brilliant story. Love and friendship pitted against bigotry and greed

It’s foul mouthed and fabulous and one I’ll definitely be recommending to all

Thanks to Fig Tree/Penguin & Netgalley for the chance to read an early copy

A Little Trickerie is a captivating story set in Tudor England. It follows Tibb Ingleby, a resourceful vagrant who forms unexpected friendships with a really diverse cast of characters; which makes for a really compelling read.
A remarkable debut that offers a fresh perspective on Tudor England and the resilience of the human spirit. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

Tibb's voice is warm, funny, profound, mischievous and powerful. In a time when it is illegal to be a Vagrant or to deviate from Tudor England's restrictive church or King laws, homeless, unforgettable Tibb is quick witted, audacious and brave . A series of heart-stopping events kept me gripped until the end and left me wondering why Tibb and her friends can't just be allowed to live and love without judgement or persecution? This debut by Pike is so dazzlingly good that I will definitely reread and recommend to everyone I care about.

I can only compare a writing voice as original as this to my first encounter with that of Jeanette Winterson in Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit. Set in the early days of the Tudor dynasty, this is a historical novel, yes, but one in which the life of social outcasts and the poor, rather than that of the ruling classes, provides the backdrop for a breathtakingly daring scam in which the little group of protagonists risks torture and execution if exposed. Tibb, the central character, is warm and sympathetic, but bedevilled by guilt for the death of her mother and sister. Her struggle, and that of her friends - each cursed in their own way by society's norms - is a hard one, and their enemies are powerful and relentless. Strong characterisation, dialogue, and plot make this a most excellent first novel.

What a surprising delight. I'm not normally one for historical fiction, but this novel gripped me. Such an original voice and style, and Tibbs and Ivo were gut-wrenchingly good characters. I inhaled this in two sittings, and found my head full of it in the break in between. A must-read this summer.

Tibb, our protagonist who happens to be a vagabond, is an incredibly unique voice, and the concept set in medieval England with the vagabonds finding their way in society is engaging, entertaining and fresh.
It is equal parts tender, hilarious, imaginative, amusing and discreetly insightful.
This is one of my favourite reads of the year so far and I am looking forward to reading it again and again.

Absolutely fabulous and I definitely enjoyed the tale of Tibb, born a vagrant, her mother's death would have possibly broken another girl, but Tibb is a survivor and a great character. A great tale and a brilliant novel. I would give it ten stars if I could but I am limited to five. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

Tibb Ingleby’s Ma dies in childbirth, the result of a desperate bid to ‘buy’ a roof over their heads as they’ve never had one. Vagabond Tibb tells us her story as she berates the big-man-God on more than one issue and does her best to survive and find shelter. As she crosses the lands of early Tudor England she meets Ivo, the pair wandering from place to place until Ivo moves on. What is in store for Tibb now? Quite a few adventures it turns out and a scrape or two to wriggle out of, using all the ingenuity she has learned from her Ma.

This is an unusual book and a good one too as it gives a different view of the early 1500’s through the eyes of the forgotten. Tudor laws are harsh not only for vagabonds but also for those perceived to have strayed from the ‘straight and narrow’. It’s a very different novel, it’s creative and original with Tibb as narrator it has a colourful vibrant tone which gives plenty of amusement. She goes on an emotional journey, at times it’s sad but others it’s joyous and funny, there’s hatred and the danger of the discovery of life threatening secrets that require more than a little clever ‘trickerie’ to overcome bigotry and prejudice. It’s a pacey read, told through little vignettes, constantly surprising and keeping me engaged. You get a good tour of England too with locations described well.

Tibb is a lively companion for this book journey with the author creating a memorable character. She’s a bold, imperfect diamond (maybe that should be a pearl) in the rough, she has baggage which is the traumatic kind but an excellent heart full of love. Al the characters she encounters even briefly are portrayed strongly and spring to life before your eyes.

Overall, I like this imaginative and at times ribald tale which is in keeping with both Tibb and those she encounters. This is an excellent debut and an interesting new voice in fiction. If you like HF it’s worth picking this one up.

Ps I do like the mystery historical ‘solution’ …. means and opportunity??

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

NO SPOILERS:

Oh my goodness! What an incredible debut novel. From the first sentence A Little Trickerie is off and running and it never stops.

Rosanna Pike’s skilled writing puts the reader in the moment. I was standing beside Tibb, hearing her whisper to me, and shout at me! I know every word will have been carefully chosen, every sentence crafted to perfection yet it flows as if the words simply tumbled from Tibb’s mouth freely and without shame.

Told in the first person, the language and structure draws you in to Tibb’s world; it reveals so much without the need for explanation. All the back story and plot comes from Tibb’s narration, her inner dialogue with herself and her late mother, and her unspoken but loudly thought asides. And what a story…it just keeps coming, page after page and I was completely caught up in it.

Now, if it weren’t for the bigotry and intolerance of the time, we start in May 1500, there would be no story to tell and sadly, a great deal of it could easily be told in current times. So, if you are offended by this book, then perhaps it’s you, not the book. There is much humour in it but also much pathos, which to me seems the best way to write it.

It’s been a while since I gave a book full marks, but A Little Trickerie is that book.

You cannot help loving Tib, how she's able to survive in a harsh world, and the portrait of Tudor England.
A little-great story that tells of a trickery that becomes something big and how it impact the life of people.
Well researched, poignant and funny, good storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Life has dealt the orphaned Tibb more blows than the average person in Tudor England. A Little Trickerie follows her through her life, the relationships she builds and the trauma she works through ending in a fantastical little piece of trickerie. I absolutely fell in love with Tibb, her values and her strength. It turns out that women have had to be strong for a very long time.

Tibb was born into nothing. In Tudor England, that's a precarious way to be. She and her mother are nomadic, living off what her mother can con or beg, but when tragedy strikes, young Tibb must fend for herself. And her journey will take her from a desolate beach to an actors' troupe to becoming her own kind of miracle.

Tibb is one of the most unique narrators I've ever read. Her intonations and thoughts are so distinct, and feel completely authentic to her time period and level of education, while also proving her to be kind and quick-witted. She's such a gentle, earnest character that everyone she meets is charmed by her, and the story - which I'd worried would devolve into violence - is instead an exploration of how to create a home, and the people who belong in it. I absolutely loved this.

Thank you Netgalley for this review copy!